Atlanta United 2 placed three players in the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Best XI announced on Oct. 8. Defender Dominik Chong Qui, midfielder Cameron Dunbar and forward Arif Kovac all received the honor. Atlanta tied Portland Timbers2 for the most selections, with three players from each club included in the league’s recognized lineup.
The awards were chosen through voting by club head coaches and chief soccer officers, along with league broadcasters and content-team members. All 11 Best XI players earned the recognition for the first time. Atlanta’s selections therefore reflect individual breakthroughs across three areas of the field rather than a single attacking position.
Chong Qui made 26 starts and recorded three goals, three assists and 31 key passes during the season. He was also a finalist for Defender of the Year, an award won by Austin FC II’s Jules Bery. The recognition adds a league measure of progress for an Atlanta Homegrown player who has developed with the second team since 2024.
Dunbar supplied 13 assists to tie the league’s single-season record and added nine goals. His 22 combined goals and assists led MLS NEXT Pro midfielders, and he also recorded 72 key passes. The season had already earned him Playmaker of the Year before the Best XI announcement.
Kovac led MLS NEXT Pro with 20 goals and finished with 23 goal contributions. He won the Golden Boot and scored a league-record five goals in a 6–2 victory over Huntsville City FC in May. His finishing and Dunbar’s creation helped Atlanta reach 48 points and secure the Eastern Conference’s No. 3 seed.
Atlanta United 2 next hosts CT United FC in its first playoff match on Friday, Oct. 16. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. The postseason will give the club an opportunity to turn its regular-season honors into a team result in a knockout setting.
GSB Take
Three Best XI selections show that Atlanta’s strong season had contributions in defense, midfield and attack. Dunbar and Kovac supplied standout production, while Chong Qui’s recognition broadens the development story. The next test is whether that balance holds when the club enters its first playoff match.